Nether garment



(No Model.)

T. FIELD. NETHER GARMENT.

Patented May 10 UNITED STATES- ATEN'r OFFICE...

THOMAS FIELD, OF BROOKLYN, NEl/V YORK.

NETH ER GARMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,550, dated May 10, 1892.

Application filed February 16, 1892. Serial No. 421,792. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Nether Garments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention has relation to that part of nether garments which is known technically as the crotch, and has for its object to protect that part of such garments from the extraordinary wear to which it is subjected, but more especially to protect the garment itself from the staining which is incident to its use and to enable persons of fastidious tastes to gratify their desires for cleanliness in their garments by furnishing a shield for the crotch of the garment which may be readily applied and replaced as often as it shall become soiled and shall in no wise interfere with the comfort of the wearer.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a nether garment fitted with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shield detached. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the crotch and seat of the garment, showing provisions for attaching the shield. Fig. 4: is a detail view in section illustrating provisions for attaching the shield.

The nether garment A to which my improvement may be applied may itself be of any suitable form either for external garments for men or for underwear for eithersex.

My improvement consists in the combina tion, with a nether garment, of a shield B of any suitable material, such as cotton or linen, which is adapted, as hereinafter described, to fit smoothly on the inner side of the crotch of the garment and to be detachably secured in place, so that it may be removed and replaced readily whenever desired. The shield is formed with a suitably-shaped seat-piece b b and a gusset or gusseted piece 0, which is set into the front of the seat-piece and is adapted to fit smoothly upon the crotch of the garment toward the front.

As a convenient means for securing the shield detachably to the garment I have shown in the drawings the seat of the garment as having secured thereto one edge of a band D, which is provided with buttonholes (1 cl. The seat-piece b b is provided with buttons 6 e, which may be engaged with the holes in the band D. A tab F is secured near the front of the crotch and is formed with a buttonhole f, which is adapted to be engaged by a button e (shown only in dotted lines in Fig. 2) to hold the front of the shield in place.

It is obvious that, if desired, the buttonholes might be formed in the garment itself, or that hooks and eyes or other equivalent means might be used to secure the shield detachably in its place.

I am aware that reinforcing-pieces have been sewed into the crotches of nether garments heretofore and that shirt-bosoms and armpit-shields have been made detachable. By my invention I provide a shield which is peculiarly adapted for the place in which it is to be used and which is so formed that it may be worn without discomfort.

The idea of added strength is merely incidental to my device, my'main object in making the piece detachable being to promote cleanliness in the use of garments of the class referred to and to reduce the labor of Washing to a minimum.

The improvement will be found particu larly advantageous to travelers and other persons who for a time may find it inconvenient to provide themselves with clean garments.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a nether garment, of a shield composed of a suitably shaped seat-piece and a gusset set into the front of the seat-piece, and means for securing said shield detachably to the inside of the crotch of said garment, substantially as shown and described. A

2. The combination, with a nether garment, of a shield composed of a suitablyshaped seat-piece and a gusset set into the front of the seat-piece, means for detachably fastening the seat-piece to the seat of the garment, and a tab secured near the front of the crotch of the garment, and a device to engage said tab With said gusset, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of February, 1892.

THOMAS FIELD. Witnesses:

I. B. LORD, GEO. F. Koon. 

